Snowmobile air box assembly

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00011. Field of the Invention

0002The present invention relates to an air box assembly for a vehicle, and more specifically relates to an air box assembly for a snowmobile that includes air-silencing capabilities.

00032. Related Art

0004Air box assemblies for snowmobiles have been in use for decades. Air box assemblies serve at least two purposes. First, the air box assembly provides an air intake to the throttle body assembly of the engine. Typically, the air box assembly filters incoming air from an air source as part of providing air intake to the throttle body assembly. Second, the air box assembly provides air-silencing capabilities by dampening throttle noise produced by the throttle body assembly that travels back to the air box assembly.

0005Known snowmobile air box assemblies are typically positioned rearward of the engine relative to a front end of the snowmobile. The air box assembly, in this rearward position, is also typically positioned frontward of the fuel tank of the snowmobile and adjacent the steering column. In this position, the air box assembly is just underneath and frontward of an operator sitting in an operator position of the snowmobile. Despite the noise dampening performed by an air box assembly in this position, the vehicle operator is typically exposed to a considerable amount of throttle noise due to the closeness of the air box assembly to the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0006The present invention is directed to an air box assembly for a snowmobile. The air box assembly is capable of being positioned frontward of the snowmobile engine, relative to a front end of the snowmobile. In this position, throttle noise being dampened by the air box assembly is further removed from an operator of the snowmobile sitting in a driver position on the snowmobile.

0007In an alternative embodiment, an air box of the air box assembly includes a top portion in fluid communication with the snowmobile throttle body assembly, and a bottom portion that is capable of acting as a skid plate of the snowmobile. The bottom portion may be part of molded one piece structure that also forms a nose cone and bumper for the front of the snowmobile, and also may include a mount or hinge for the hood of the snowmobile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0008<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of one example of an air box assembly of the present invention in fluid communication with an engine throttle body assembly and mounted to a snowmobile chassis;

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a close up view of the air box assembly mounting shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a perspective view of the air box assembly shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a side view of the air box assembly shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a front view of the air box assembly shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a top view of the air box assembly shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a side view of another example of an air box assembly of the present invention that utilizes a skid plate of the snowmobile as a bottom portion of the air box assembly;

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 8 and 9</figref> are bottom and top perspective views of a molded skid plate—nose cone—front bumper piece that is useful in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

0016The present invention relates to an air box assembly for a snowmobile that is positioned frontward of the snowmobile engine, relative to a front end of the snowmobile. The air box assembly includes an air inlet in fluid communication with an air source and an air inlet/outlet port in fluid communication with a throttle body assembly of the snowmobile. In some embodiments, the air box assembly further includes a flexible tube having a first end secured to the air inlet/outlet port and a second end secured to the throttle body assembly to provide fluid communication there between.

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 2</figref> illustrate a portion of a snowmobile assembly <b>10</b> that includes an air box assembly <b>12</b>, a throttle body assembly <b>14</b>, an engine <b>16</b>, and a chassis <b>18</b>. The chassis <b>18</b> includes a front portion <b>30</b>, a rearward portion <b>32</b>, and an operator position <b>34</b>. The engine <b>16</b> is positioned in the chassis in a “lay down” orientation such that cylinders <b>40</b>, <b>42</b> of the engine are angled relative to a vertical line that extends through a drive axis <b>44</b> of the engine. The engine includes exhaust ports <b>46</b>, <b>48</b> and air inlets <b>50</b>, <b>52</b>. The throttle body assembly <b>14</b> includes first and second portions <b>60</b>, <b>62</b> that are secured to the air inlets <b>50</b>, <b>52</b>, respectively, to provide fluid communication there between.

0018Air box assembly <b>12</b> is shown in further detail in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3–6</figref> and includes a top side <b>70</b>, a bottom side <b>72</b>, a front side <b>74</b>, and a rear side <b>76</b>. Air box assembly <b>12</b> also includes an air inlet <b>80</b>, and a flexible air channel <b>82</b> extending from the rear side <b>76</b> to air outlets <b>84</b>, <b>86</b>. Air outlets <b>84</b>, <b>86</b> are secured to the first and second portions <b>60</b>, <b>62</b> of throttle body assembly <b>14</b> to create fluid communication between air box <b>12</b>, throttle body <b>14</b>, and engine <b>16</b>. Air outlets <b>84</b>, <b>86</b> are formed in a flat portion <b>87</b> secured to the flexible air channel <b>82</b>.

0019The bottom side <b>72</b> of air box assembly <b>12</b> is configured for mounting to chassis <b>18</b>. In an alternative embodiment of an air box assembly <b>112</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, the bottom side <b>172</b> of the air box assembly <b>112</b> is capable of acting as a skid plate <b>190</b> or belly pan of the snowmobile. Such a configuration would reduce the net weight and overall cost of the air box assembly for the snowmobile. In an embodiment illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 8 and 9</figref>, the bottom side of the air box assembly is part of a one piece component that provides a skid plate, nose cone and front bumper for the snowmobile. The nose cone may be adapted for mounting of the hood of the snowmobile, for example through the use of an apertured protrusion that can accept a hinge pin. This component may be formed of a suitable plastic material such as high density polypropylene. Other polymer materials or metals can be used, or combinations of materials can be used, e.g. a polymeric shell on a metal frame piece or the use of metal for a support framework for hollow ribs of the component.

0020Air box assemblies <b>12</b> and <b>112</b> each are positioned frontward of engine <b>16</b> relative to front end <b>30</b> of chassis <b>18</b>. With the air box assembly positioned forward on the chassis, throttle noise generated by throttle assembly <b>14</b> is dampened at a location on the snowmobile further from an operator and other passengers of the snowmobile positioned in operator position <b>32</b>. Thus, the arrangement of the air box assembly frontward of the engine provided by the present invention reduces throttle noise for the snowmobile operator and passengers.

0021A further advantage of positioning the air box assembly frontward rather than rearward on the chassis (i.e., adjacent the fuel tank) is that there is more space available for fuel tank capacity. Increased fuel tank capacity reduces the frequency at which the fuel tank must be refilled.

0022A still further advantage of positioning the air box assembly frontward of the snowmobile engine is that the air box is able to draw from a source of air that is less affected by heat being generated by the engine. Typically, cooler air being fed to the engine through the throttle body assembly equates to improved engine performance. Thus, by positioning the air box assembly frontward of the engine, the source of air for the air box assembly may also be positioned more frontward on the snowmobile and removed from heat being generated by the snowmobile engine. In addition, during operation of the snowmobile snow can enter the engine compartment through openings in the hood, where it is vaporized due to the heat of the operating engine. Positioning the air box assembly frontward of the engine reduces the exposure of the air intake system to water vapor from the snow, increasing the intake of cold clean air.

0023Another advantage of positioning the air box assembly forward of the engine is that there is more room in the chassis for rotating the engine into a “lay down” position and moving the engine into a lower, more rearward position on the chassis than a typical engine configuration. A “lay down” engine orientation lowers the center of gravity for the snowmobile and moves the center of gravity to a more rearward position, thus promoting greater stability for the snowmobile.

0024The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.